ABSTRACT
The problem of finding the maximum and minimum values of functions is encountered in mechanics, physics, geometry, and in many other fields. Finding maxima, minima and saddle points for functions of two variables requires the application of partial differentiation. The chapter describes two independent variables, a saddle point and determines the maxima, minima and saddle points for a function of two variables, provides a contour map for functions of two variables. Partial differentiation is used when determining stationary points for functions of two variables. A function f(x,y) is said to be a maximum at a point (x,y) if the value of the function there is greater than at all points in the immediate vicinity, and is a minimum if less than at all points in the immediate vicinity.
